PYL 115: Applied Optics

Tutorial Sheet-I
Fermat’s Principle and Electromagnetic Waves
1. Solve Prob. 3.5, 3.7*, 3.12 and 3.14 of Ref #1. (*please note that in the second line the Fig. 3.35 should
read Fig. 3.37).
2. Write the mathematical representation for a y-polarized plane wave with the wave vector in the
x-z plane making an angle of 30 deg. with the x-axis. Assume free space wavelength 820nm
and the refractive index of the medium, n=1.5. Obtain the energy flow per unit time per unit
area along the x-axis and the z-axis.
3. Consider a wave identical to the one in Ex. 1 above, except that it now makes an angle of -30
deg with the x-axis. Write the expression for this wave. Next consider that both these waves are
simultaneously propagating. Write the expression for the electric field of the resultant wave and
obtain the energy flow along the x-axis and the z-axis.
4. Consider a laser beam of diameter 2mm with power 1mW. Considering the beam to be uniform
over the cross-section estimate the magnitude of the electric field associated with this beam.
Next consider an electric bulb of wattage 100 W. Assuming that 1% of the energy radiated is in
the visible region (also assume that all of it is a very narrow band of wavelength), estimate the
electric field associated at a distance of 1m from the bulb.
5. Consider a x-polarized plane wave at wavelength 632.8 nm (He-Ne laser) with an intensity of
1 W/m2 propagating in the y-z plane at an angle of 60 deg with the y-axis in a medium of index
1.5. Obtain the magnitude and directions of all the fields associated with this wave.
6. Discuss the state of polarization of a plane electromagnetic wave with the electric field
described by the following equations (obtain the equation of the locus of the tip of the electric
vector on the x-y plane):
i) E x  12 E0 cos(t  kz ), Ey  2
3
E0 cos(t  kz )
ii) E x  12 E0 cos(t  kz ), Ey  2
3
E0 sin(t  kz )
iii) E x  12 E0 cos(t  kz  3 ), E y  23 E0 cos(t  kz  6 )
7. Consider an interface between two homogeneous media ni and nr. Consider the incidence of a
plane wave from medium ni and let r and t be the reflection and transmission coefficients,
respectively. If the refracted wave direction is reversed, i.e., if the incidence is now from
medium nr and the angle of incidence is the same as the angle of refraction in the previous case,
the reflection and transmission coefficients, respectively, are r  and t  . Show that, for both
polarizations,
r   r and 1 r r  t t .
These are known as Stokes’ relations.
8. Show for both polarizations that the sum of reflectance, R, and transmittance, T, is unity.
9. Consider the incidence of a plane wave in air at a plane interface between air and glass (n=1.6).
Plot the reflection and transmission coefficients for both polarizations as a function of
incidence angle. Also plot the variation of the phase of the reflected wave as a function of the
incidence angle.
10. Repeat Q.8 for the case of incidence from glass.
11. Consider a plane wave, plane polarized at 45 deg to the plane of incidence, incident from air at
a plane interface between air and glass (n= 3 ). Obtain the polarization of the reflection and
transmitted waves (in the form of expressions for the electric field) for angles of incidence of
30, 45, 60 and 75 deg.